“I’m not opposed to adding to the crew. I know the engineering job is huge. But I’m not planning to recruit unless one of you makes a request for additional crew. If we find someone, all the active partners would have to decide if the person would be offered a partnership.”
Blaize tried not to panic. Why had the captain mentioned engineering? Did Cyra think she wasn’t doing her job? The ship was running at ninety-two percent efficiency. Anything over ninety was considered exceptional, but maybe Cyra only saw the room for improvement. Maybe she thought someone else could do a better job. And with the funds to buy Blaize out… Blaize choked down the rest of her meal.
“Before we make any decisions on how to split the profits, it’s only right to cover the costs of Dez’s injury.” Veda paused to give each of them a pointed look. “He lost his hand saving the ship. Prosthetics—good ones, which integrate—are expensive.”
“I’m not even sure that’s possible, Veda.” Dez smiled at the medic. “If it is, we can look into the costs and how to cover them at that point.”
“She’s right.” Rhysa pointed at Veda with her fork, and Bodi nodded.
“I’m going to mechanical.” Blaize stood and took her dishes to the sanitizer. “There are a few things I want to look over again.”
“The final crate of equipment is supposed to be delivered first thing tomorrow. As soon as we’re loaded and have authorization, we’ll leave,” Cyra said.
Blaize acknowledged the captain before rushing out of the galley so she wouldn’t say anything she’d regret. Her steps echoed through the wide, well-lit hallways. The cabinets lining the corridor were a bit grimy from use. Above the ceiling and below the floor, various cables and conduits needed to connect all the ship’s systems. Blaize felt more at home on The Treasure than she’d ever felt in the caverns of her home planet. If Cyra thought she wasn’t doing an adequate job, she wouldn’t be able to stay.
Veda was wonderful and warm, and it was nice to chat with her about the plants. Rhysa and Bodi, although they liked to snipe at each other, were fun, fascinating and, from what she could tell, honest. The other females on her planet had ostracized her for her mixed heritage and odd appearance. The Treasure’s crew were the first female friends she’d ever had. She would do everything possible to remain. She walked a little faster, running through a mental list of tasks she could perform to make sure the trip through the ER bridge was as smooth as possible. That might earn her points with a captain who hated ER travel.
As Blaize passed the opening to the greenhouse, she caught a movement in her peripheral vision. She paused and entered the room, checking the ceiling and the floor. She crouched and peered under the tables. There was nothing there. It must have been a trick of her mind, but she would be more vigilant. It didn’t seem likely that there would be vermin on an ice planet, but it was still possible. Gnawing rodents could spell huge trouble for the systems if they accessed the ship and went unchecked.
She stared back over her shoulder as she exited the room and almost ran over Veda.
“Blaize, I’m glad you’re here.” Veda gripped her arm. “I wanted to ask you if there is anything else I should do to get ready for the jump?”
Veda proceeded to show her how each plant was secured and the fine-mesh netting over the dirt. Blaize forced herself to focus on Veda, despite the eerie sense that she was being watched.
“We should check the shelves. Make sure they’re anchored, along with the lights. When did you install them? Did Dez help you? I have a wrench in engineering. Give me a minute.” Blaize raced to the cabinet where she stored her tools and retrieved her favorite wrench. It was probably overkill for the job but would help with the vulnerable sensation she couldn’t shake.
“Wow. That’s huge,” Veda said when Blaize returned.
“That’s what she said.” Blaize couldn’t help the stupid joke. The itchy feel of eyes on her had returned. “It’s actually very useful since it’s so long and adjustable. The leverage means I don’t need as much physical strength to tighten the bolts. It’s a little unwieldy overhead, but since you have these shelves spaced like ladders, I should be fine.”
As soon as Blaize could, she left Veda and went deeper into the ship, where she had some control.
The systems did what you set them to do. The settings were either right or wrong. There was no ambiguity when it came to engineering. Systems were either working optimally, or they weren’t. It was so much easier than dealing with people. Some days, she missed having her own ship, but then she remembered how much she hated managing a crew. And how much it hurt when they all abandoned her. Staying on with Cyra would be the best possible future. If she could get the captain to see she was capable of doing the job without adding engineering staff to second-guess every move Blaize made. Or worse, force her into the junior role.
A shadow caught her eye. Did something move? She crawled all over the systems, tugging the connections, and tightening every bolt, but couldn’t find anything that wasn’t latched down. No evidence of animals, but the odd sense of being watched continued. Paranoia hadn’t plagued her so relentlessly since she’d been with Varik. Only he had been after her. She checked the time. Late. She could keep going, but a yawn had her heading to her quarters. She’d done what she could to prepare for the wormhole. It would have to be enough.
Chapter 3
“Where are you going, lover?” The hybrid escort lounged against the padded frame of the bunk, two of their three breasts exposed and still bearing some exquisite bite marks.
Varik couldn’t help the grin that touched his lips. But no matter how entertaining the time on this fuck-all of an excuse for a station had been, it was time to go. According to the brief conversation he’d had with Karnek, the ship was ready with a whole new identity.
Varik slipped a leg into his coveralls. “Been fun.”
“When will you be back?”
Never. Because if he had to come back, it meant his plans were falling apart. Again. “Soon. Behave while I’m gone, or I’ll put your dick in a cock cage and beat your ass without mercy.”
The hybrid—Varik couldn’t remember their name—shivered and moaned. Never let it be said he left his sexual partners unsatisfied. Maybe a bit bitter, but always fully pleasured.
With a quick seal of his coveralls, he darted out the door and down the poorly lit underground tunnel. Occasionally, a scream, or something worse, emanated from the doors he passed. If he’d had time, he’d have stopped to see if they were open and if he could enjoy the spectacle of whatever was happening to make those thrilling sounds.
Karnek stood outside the ship. It shone, the paint of the new name, Cain’s Alibi, without a single blemish from space dust or ER bridge crossings. So perfect, he ought to record an image. Varik rolled his eyes at himself. “Let’s go.”
Varik entered the security code into his comm and transmitted it to his vessel. The bay door lowered. “Did you get the fuel?”
“We’re fully stocked. I did what I could to negotiate.”
